Divine Discipline and the Ministry of Reconciliation

Press On

Text: Philippians 3:12-16Speaker: Ryan WentzelDate: October 21, 2012

This morning we will consider Philippians 3:12-16 together. In this passage Paul encourages the Philippians, and us, to press on toward spiritual maturity. He paints a picture of the Christian life in which God’s grace motivates and enables us to pursue holiness.

From Slaves to Sons

Some of you have seen the movie, “The Blind Side” about Michael Oher who was a troubled kid on the streets until he was adopted by the Tuohy family. As a member of the Tuohy family Michael achieved success in school (graduating from college at Ole Miss) and became an NFL football player. We too have been adopted out of our former life of slavery to sin and spiritual poverty. Now we are sons of God and heirs of His promises because of what Christ has achieved for us. Why would an adopted son and heir want to go back to slavery to sin under the Law?

Sons & Heirs

Perhaps you have been called by people taking surveys. In almost every poll they want to know your identity – age, gender, race, education, etc. Our society tends to divide us up into various interest groups often pitting us against each other.

Under the Old Covenant the Jews were separated from the Gentiles. Many of the terms of the Mosaic Law were given to keep the Israelites from intermingling with the pagan nations which surrounded them. With the coming of Christ, the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles has been broken down (Ephesians 2:11ff). Some Jews (the Judaizers) who had acknowledged Jesus as Messiah were guilty of trying to maintain the old separation from the Gentiles and demanded that Gentile converts to Christ become Jews outwardly by undergoing circumcision.

Paul explains that the Mosaic Law was only meant to be temporary, until the coming of the Messiah, in whom we are all one – regardless of ethnicity, social status or even gender. Your identity is found in your union with Christ by which you have been made a son and heir.

While we don’t have many Judiazers in our day, we do have many who do not understand the newness of the New Covenant. Many more fail to appreciate what it means for us to be united with Christ which gives us the status of sons and heirs.

I encourage you to read Galatians 3 before coming to church. Also, you might take note of verse 28 which is used by some feminists to deny gender roles in the home and in the church. How would you answer them?